Cup thriller

Cruelly it was the second time in four years that the Dalesmen had lost the final on the last ball and it was their last chance to win the trophy before going to play in the Airedale and Wharfedale Senior League next season.

The weather which had ruined most of the previous day's games was again unsettled. However only one shower threatened to halt play and the game was duly completed, much to the relief of league officials.

Pendle Forest skipper Nick Swinbank must have seen something in the greenish wicket that few others saw as he won the toss and decided to bat first.

His decision looked to have been a hasty one as John Lawn quickly reduced his side to 26-3 and then he ran Jason Bracewell out calling for a suicidal run.

When he followed next the score stood at 55-5 which quickly became 59-6. John Hargreaves was then joined by David Flounders and the pair added 56 for the seventh wicket.

Hargreaves was run out for 38 which given the conditions was a splendid knock. Flounders followed for 15 five runs later. And the innings closed on 127 with four balls of the 45th over left, Lawn finishing with 3-34 off 11 overs and Justin Graham claiming 3-27 off 14.2 overs.

The talented Wharfedale batters also found batting difficult against some tight bowling. And they lost John Pearson for three and John Harrison for 19 reaching 36.

Aussie Graham dug in and looked to be swinging the game in his side's direction despite the loss of Paul Drinkall for four and David Whitfield for three.

However when Hargreaves was reintroduced into the attack Graham going for the hit over the top was well caught by Tim Stanley at mid-off for a fine 39. So it was game on.

Lee Barrett went for 10 at 83 and then Ian Austin and Lawn took the score to 99 when the former perished for 13.

At this point 28 were required off the last five overs, and Lawn and skipper Jon Slater looked to be striding to the trophy as the score reached 118 in the 44th over.

Then Nick Daniel shattered Lawn's stumps for 12 and 10 was needed to win off the last over. The fielders were spread far and wide around the boundary which seemed a little strange on such a big ground.

Slater and George Dinsdale scampered seven off the first five balls and so it was three to win off the last ball. Still the fielders were back on the boundary which looked to be inviting Upper Wharfedale to tie the match.

Dinsdale swung the bat and the ball went to Ajmal Choudry on the long-on boundary and his measured throw to Hargreaves allowed the latter to break the stumps with Slater a yard short of his ground on the second run, the Dalesmen finishing on 126-9.

Hargreaves ended with 4-48 off 15 overs and Daniel had 2-35 off 14 overs.

After long deliberation umpires Eric Whiteley and Robert Clark chose Hargreaves as man of the match and the trophies were presented by league president Peter Shuttleworth.

The full teams were:

Pendle Forest -- Nick Swinbank, Ajmal Choudry, Andrew Townsend, Tim Stanley, Jason Bracewell, Craig Vickery, Peter Atkinson, John Hargreaves, David Flounders, Simon Jones, Nick Daniel.

Upper Wharfedale -- Jon Slater, John Harrison, John Pearson, Justin Graham, Paul Drinkall, David Whitfield, Lee Barrett, John Lawn, Ian Austin, George Dinsdale, Malcolm Watson.

The weather had a big say on Saturday with play possible in only five games, and two of these had a big bearing on the top of the Second Division - there was no play in the First or Third Divisions.

Second Division leaders Skipton Church Institute travelled to Airedale and on winning the toss asked the home side to bat in what was a 33-over a side game.

Tim Crossley and Mark Allcock both scored 24 as the team totalled a modest 104, John Drake taking 6-60 and Shaun Williamson 4-33.

Conditions ensured the reply would also be a struggle, Church Institute booking a First Division place by four wickets with just nine balls left.

Ian Burke top scored with 34 as Malcolm Quinlan claimed 4-23.

Long Lee should be the team joining them but they have to wait at least another week to confirm this as they slipped up on their travels to Chatburn.

The home side batted first and were restricted to 116-8, Richard Shovelton scoring 39 as Chris Taylor took 4-57.

The Keighley side failed by 11 runs to reach the target being all out in the next to last over, Alan Coney being undefeated with 27 as John Lockley took 4-35.

In the Fourth Division second-placed Skipton Church Institute took advantage of leaders Long Lee's inactivity to close the gap at the top to eight points.

Entertaining Airedale at Sandylands they restricted them to 82 in a 40-over a side game.

David Mills top scored with 33 as M Khalil continued his rich vein of wicket taking ending up with 6-42 off 15.5 overs. The homesters lost two quick wickets before cantering home by seven wickets in the 20th over, S Walker scoring a match-winning 46 not out.

Despite not playing Long Lee confirmed their promotion to the Third Division.

Third-placed Carleton cannot catch them despite winning over at Pendle Forest III. The Fence side were dismissed for 87 with evergreen veteran David Hall scoring 32 as David Humphries claimed 5-12. The visitors floundered early on losing quick wickets.

However Humphries scored a crucial 40 not out to lead his side to a five-wicket victory.

In the only other game where play was possible Ingrow St John's asked visitors Foulridge to bat first and restricted them to 107-8, I Edworthy top scoring with 23 not out, M Mehrban being the best bowler with 3-21. David Unwin with 50 led the Saints to a fine eight-wicket win.

At a recent league committee meeting honorary life membership was conferred on fixture secretary Trevor Coe in recognition of his work and effort on behalf of the league over the past 20 years.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.